Peru Here & Now - Salcantay Trek

INCA TRAIL SALCANTAY

5 days / 4 nights

Itinerary

Day 1: CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - SORAYPAMPA

You will be picked up at your hotel around 6:00 am for a beautiful scenic bus drive to Mollepata (2,700 m / 8860 ft) after passing through several Andean villages such as Izcuchaca and Limatambo. Mollepata is an attractive village built on a hillside, and overlooks the deep citrus producing valley of the Apurimac. We will have breakfast before initiating the long hike of the first day.

After a brief stop for lunch at Silcaycancha, where Nevado (snow-capped) Humantay (5,917 m / 19,413 ft) dominates the view, we will continue towards Soraypampa, for approximately 5 hours. The valley broadens and flattens and the beautiful conical snow-capped peak of Salcantay ("The Wild Mountain" 6,271 m / 20,574 ft) comes into view. We will spend the night at the head of the trail, in this unique camp located between the Salcantay and the Humantay peaks. Expect cold nighttime temperatures and more stars in the sky than you've ever seen.

(Incl. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: SORAYPAMPA - CHAULLAY

After breakfast we will slowly walk up to the Incachiriasca pass (4,880m / 16,010 ft) and continue through beautiful sceneries up to the observation point of Nevado Humantay (5,917 m / 19,413 ft). Then we will continue towards Wayracmachay for lunch, before resuming our hike to the little village of Chaullay, where we will stay and camp for the night.

(Incl. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: CHAULLAY - PLAYA

Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will be heading to Playa, an 8-hour hike through the jungle's eyebrow, appreciating the spectacular landscape. We will have lunch in Playa, say goodbye to our horses and arriero (horseman), and stay for the night (or we can take a local bus to the village of Santa Teresa to spend the night at a campsite or local hostel).

(Incl. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4: PLAYA - SANTA TERESA - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES

Early in the morning we will board a local bus from Playa to the village of Santa Teresa (if we didn't do it the night before), surrounded by tropical plantations. We will cross the valley of Pampacahua, where we will find the remains of an authentic Inca canal. We will keep going down to the Hidroelectrica Train station (Km 116), where we will have a delicious lunch. We will either board the train to Aguas Calientes (2,000 m / 6,562 ft) or hike more, following the train tracks. We will spend the night in a lodge in Aguas Calientes after having a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.

(Incl. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO

After an early rise and breakfast, we will take the bus at 6:30 am to Machu Picchu, the "lost city of the Incas."

We will register, leave our excess luggage and start on a complete 2-hour guided visit. You will then have free time to walk around. You can climb the Huayna Picchu mountain (limited to 400 people at a time), where one can experience spectacular views of all of Machu Picchu and the mountains that surround it, or you can visit the Temple of the Moon and the fabulous Inca bridge.

In the afternoon, a bus will take you from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes, where you will take the train back to Cusco, to arrive after nightfall.

(Incl. Breakfast)

Note: All distances, altitudes and times and durations are approximate.

Included

An informative presentation of the trek (the evening before)

Bus from Cusco to Mollepata

Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back

Train ticket from Aguas Calientes back to Cusco (Backpackers' service)

Transfer from train station to hotel

Lodging at Aguas Calientes

Entrance fee for Machu Picchu

Meals as indicated (Plentiful, nutritious meals—includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking. Vegetarian option available)

Snacks and hot drinks, including coca leave tea (excellent for altitude sickness)

Drinking water throughout the trek (filtered with Rotoplas system)

Emergency oxygen bottle and a first aid kit (traveler's diarrhea, cuts/ scrapes, etc.)

Toilet paper

Tent (Igloo tents - 2 persons in each 4-person capacity with plenty of space for your backpacks) and mattress

Camping equipment (kitchen and dining tents, camp tables, portable bathroom)

Cook and muleteer

Packhorses to carry food, cooking equipment, camping equipment and extra gear (Extra horses/mules may be hired upon request for $50 each. They carry a maximum of 25 kg (55 lbs) each)

Professional Spanish/English-speaking local guide

Not Included

Entrance to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes (optional) US$10

Tips for the guide, cook and muleteer

What to bring

Medium size back pack for hiking and another bag for extra gear to be loaded on horse

Sleeping bag (light and warm)

Good and well-fitted trekking shoes

Change of clothes for the whole period of the trek (Recommended “safari” type with lots of pockets, and pants that unzip into shorts.) We suggest you reserve a set of clean clothes for the final day in Machu Picchu and the train ride back. You will be more comfortable and your fellow train passengers might thank you.

Warm and light clothes for evening and night: jacket, polar fleece, sweaters, thermal underpants…

Warm gloves, scarf & socks

Sunglasses

Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold

Rain plastic poncho or good rain gear in rain season (November to March)

Personal toiletry (incl. towel, wipes, tissues…) and sunscreen, lip balm, band-aids (special for blisters), aspirin, etc.

Insect repellent (very important) and afterbite

Refillable water bottle and sterilizing tablets (e.g.. Micropur)

Flashlight and batteries

Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)

Snacks: dried fruit, nuts, energy bars, chocolate, biscuits, etc.

Swimsuit (if you intend to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)

Cash in Soles and US $ (There are ATM machines in Cusco but not in Aguas Calientes – Carry plenty of small bills for tipping purposes, drinks, snacks, etc. Change is hard to get)

Photocopy of you passport. We recommend leaving the original passport in a safety box at your hotel. If there is no safety box, then bring it with you too.

Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required)

Note: We recommend you travel “light” (8 kg–18 lb max) since you will carry your personal items for the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Maps

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This is a fantastic alternative for those who seek adventure and spectacular views but wish to avoid the more congested Classic Inca Trail.

The Salcantay route is a remote and ancient Inca footpath along which you will see the most astonishing panoramic Andean views and pass through an amazing progression of ecological zones, from sparsely vegetated alpine meadows flanking two spectacular glaciers, down through subtropical forest. Like the Classic Inca Trail, it leads to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas."